PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker made a visit to Peoria Thursday to present a grant and to share the importance of behavioral health access.
CJ Harvest Supermarket
The governor’s first stop was the new supermarket in Peoria.
"It’s not just the opening of a new store. It’s the beginning of a new chapter for this neighborhood," said Peoria Mayor Rita Ali.
CJ Harvest Supermarket on South Western avenue has been given a grant by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker.
The grant is worth more than $1.5 million and is part of a larger sum of grocery initiative grants in Illinois, something the founder of the store Chuck Brown is happy to be a recipient of.
"One thing you have to learn about entrepreneurs," Brown said, "we’re crazy people. We’re resilient and we try to be resourceful in everything that we do."
With the grocery tax going away at the start of 2026, Governor Pritzker spoke about the impact the change will have on the community.
"Even if inflation was at four percent and we’re taking one percent off with the elimination of this grocery tax, it helps people," Pritzker said. "It may not seem like a lot, but it really does help people."
Residents who lived on the South Western side of Peoria years ago share what this supermarket will do for people who live here now.
"Oh man it’s going to make a big difference," said Donald Miller, a longtime Peoria resident. "You know, we got a lot of people that’re not able to get out and have transportation to go somewhere to the store, and it’s going to [impact] the whole area."
Trillium Place
CJ Harvest Supermarket is not the only stop the Governor made in Peoria. He also met with local officials at Trillium Place’s new Young Minds Center.
Pritzker’s visit is part of his desire to address mental health access and other challenges that places crisis in families.
The Young Minds Center is an affiliate of Carle Health, and it focuses on behavioral health for adolescents ages four to 17.
Pritzker shares more on the purpose of his visit to the center.
"It’s very difficult for a parent to overcome some of those circumstances all on their own," Pritzker said. "Every parent, I think, wants the best for their child. And so if we can help them get that, I think we’d all be better off."
The Governor cites investing in behavioral health as one of the main priorities of the state of Illinois.
Feeds,News,City: Peoria,Peoria,Central
via CIProud.com https://ift.tt/kd0YsTH
October 3, 2024 at 07:30PM
Illinois Delivered 